Fabric handling apparatus



Sept. 28, 1965 H. w. JANSON 3,208,156

FABRIC HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. w. JANSON 3,208,156 FABRIC HANDLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1963 Sept. 28, 1965 United States Patent 3,298,156 FABRIC HANDLING APPARATUS Harry W. Jansen, Fairhaven, Mass, assignor to Hoyt Manufacturing Corporation, Westport, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 263,448 15 Claims. (Cl. 3445) This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning fabric, and more particularly to combination drying tumblers and solvent reclaimers of the type used in commercial fabric cleaning establishments.

In the dry cleaning of fabric, a volatile cleaning agent such as perchlorethylene is used. That cleaning agent is expensive and for economical operation it must be removed from the fabrics and reclaimed for reuse. In the reclamation of the cleaning agent from the treated fabrics, a closed system is preferably provided in which heated air is circulated first through the fabric processing chamber, picking up the cleaning agent from the fabrics, and then through a condenser chamber where the solvent is removed from the circulating air for reclamation. This reclaiming operation desirably is performed rapidly with recovery of substantially all the solvent. However, as the heated solvent can cause injury to operating personnel, precautions must also be taken to properly control the reclamation operation. After this solvent removal treatment the fabrics must be cooled and then preferably subjected to a deodorizing treatment.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel and improved equipment for performing solvent reclaiming operations in commercial cleaning establishments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved solvent reclaiming apparatus which enables efficient and rapid reclamation of the solvent.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in solvent reclaiming apparatus of the type used in commercial fabric cleaning operations an improved solvent reclamation circulation path providing countercurrent circulation of solvent laden air through a condenser chamber in direct opposition to the flow of solvent removed from the air in the condensing operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved solvent circulation arrangement in a solvent reclaimer which employs condenser and heater components arranged relative to the processing chamber for efiicient and expeditious solvent reclaiming, cooling and deodorizing operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved cycle control over the reclaiming, cooling and deodorizing cycles in solvent reclaiming apparatus of the type used in commercial dry cleaning establishments.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved solvent reclaiming apparatus which pro vides safe, efficient and economical operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide im proved control circuitry for use in fabric treating apparatus.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be seen as the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof progresses, in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a solvent reclaimmg apparatus constructed in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the solvent reclaiming apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the air circulation path therein in a solvent reclaiming operation;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the solvent reclaiming apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the air circulation path therein in a cooling operation;

3,208,156 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the solvent reclaiming apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the air circulation path therein in a deodorizing operation; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the control circuitry employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

The solvent reclaiming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing 10 for a processing chamber which includes a cylindrical tumbler basket 12 that is Supported by suitable bearings for rotation by motor 14. This motor may be operated through a variable speed drive to regulate the rate of rotation of the tumbler basket 12. Access to the tumbler basket is obtained through a door 16 hingedly mounted on the housing as controlled by latching structure 18. Also mounted on the front housing wall is a control push button 66 and a set of four cycle indicating lights 96, 98, 1%, 192. Below the access door there is a smaller hingedly supported door 20 which controls access to a lint chamber.

A diagrammatic view of the circulation path of the reclaiming apparatus within the housing is shown in FIG. 2.. In that figure the components are shown in position for a solvent reclaiming cycle. The circulation path in this cycle is a closed path which closely surrounds the processing chamber. Mounted in chamber outlet 22 are two temperature sensors 24, 26. Immediately below the temperature sensors is a lint trap, access to which is ob-v tained through door 20, and behind the lint trap is a circulatin g fan 28 which is directly driven by a suitable motor 36. This fan produces an air flow from the chamber 12 past the sensors 24, 26 and then upwardly through the short duct 32 to a condenser chamber 34. This air flow direction through the condenser chamber is directly upward. At the bottom of the chamber there is a trough 36 and outlet pipe 38 which leads to the water separator. A second short duct section 40 connects the condenser chamber to the heater chamber 42 which is substantially directly above the condenser chamber and contains a heater which is energized to heat the circulating air. The outlet of the heater chamber is connected directly to the inlet 44 to the tumbler basket 12 and channels air downwardly through that chamber.

Positioned in the duct section 40 between the condenser chamber 34 and the heater chamber 42 is a heater bypass valve 46 movable between the position shown in FIG. 2 and the position shown in FIG. 3 in which the passageway to the heater chamber 42 is blocked and air flow from the outlet of the condenser chamber is applied directly to the tumbler basket 12 through a second processing chamber inlet 48. This bypass circulation path is even shorter than the reclamation circulation path, with the lay-passed heater &2 being above it so that it exerts minimal influence on the circulating air in this position. Also disposed in this duct section is an inlet damper valve 50 which opens the air circulation path to permit entrance of air through an inlet port 52 as shown in FIG. 4. In the duct section 32 there is a third valve 54 which controls flow through outlet port 56. A valve control mechanism 58 is coupled to the valve 54 to damp its rate of closing. This mechanism may be adjustable and delays the closing of the air circulation path upon de-energization of the valve operator.

Briefly, after the fabrics having solvent which is to be reclaimed are deposited in the processing chamber 12 and the door is secured by latch 18, push button 66 may be depressed to start the solvent reclaiming cycle. In this cycle the circulation path is as shown in FIG. 2 with the air being moved through a short closed circulation path by the blower 28 through duct 32 upward through the condenser chamber 34 to the heater chamber 42 for re-entry into the processing chamber 12. In this cycle the circulating air is heated and extracts the solvent from the fabrics, which solvent is removed from the air in the condenser chamber. The air temperature at the outlet of the processing chamber is sensed by sensor 24 and when that air temperature reaches a predetermined value that sensor operates control circuitry to terminate the solvent reclaiming cycle and change the circulation path to that shown in FIG. 3 for a cool-down cycle in which valve 46 is operated to bypass the heater chamber 42. The air continues to be circulated through the processing chamber through a shorter closed cycle circuit without heat being supplied so that its temperature gradually fialls. When the outlet air cools to a predetermined temperature sensor 26 actuates control circuitry to change the circulation path to that shown in FIG. 4 and initiate a deodorizing cycle in which the circulation path is opened to the atmosphere. This cycle is maintained for a fixed time sufficient to remove the odor of the solvent from the fabrics in the processing chamber and then the entire operation is terminated with audible and visual indications being generated. The control for this apparatus is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 5.

With reference to the control circuit for the reclaimer shown in FIG. 5, there is included a main switch 60 which controls the application of power to the circuitry from a two hundred twenty volt source connected at terminals 62, 64. Also shown connected to line 62 is an optional connection to a door interlock switch 16-3. Start-push button 66, mounted on housing 10, has three contacts, a normally closed contact 66-1 and two normally open contacts 66-2 and 66-3. A timing. motor 68 employed in the system has timing control contacts 68-1 and two temperature sensors 24 and 26, which are mounted in the exhaust outlet of the tumbler basket chamber, control electrical circuits as shown. The control valves are solenoid operated and include a condenser water control valve operated by a solenoid 70, the heater bypass valve 46 operated by solenoid 72 and the damper valves 50 land 54 operated by solenoid 74. A steam control operated by solenoid 76 is optionally used for introducing steam into a basket chamber during a reclaiming cycle.

There are also provided four control relays 80, 82, 84 and-86 and three indicator relays 88, 90 and 92. The indicator relays operate in conjunction with a transformer 94 to energize the reclaim cycle indicator light 96,

, cool cycle indicator 98, deodorize cycle indicator 100 and end of cycle indicator 102. In addition, the control circuit includes a warning buzzer 104 which is energized to indicate that the end of the cycle is approaching. Fuse 106 protects the control circuit while fusetrons 108 are employed to protect the fan motor 30 and basket motor 14.

In operation, closing the master switch 60 supplies power to the entire control circuit with a signal being applied through the normally closed contacts of the thermal timing relay 68 to the normally open push button contacts 62-2, and through the door switch contact 16-1 to the normally open contacts 80-1 of control relay 80. A second circuit may be traced thrdugh the normally closed push button contacts 66-1 to the normally open contacts 82-1 of the control relay 82. Solvent treated fabrics are deposited in the basket 12 through the door 16. When the door 16 is open contacts 16-2 are closed and control coil 86 is energized. The closing of contacts 86-1 completes a circuit to energize coil 84. The then closed contacts 86-2 energize solenoid 74 to open the damper valves 50, 54 and contacts 84-2 energize solenoid 72 to open the heater bypass. Thus an external air circulation path is provided. Where the optional circuit through contacts 16-3 is employed the fan motor 30 is energized whenever the door 16 is open to provide forced circulation of air through the tumbler chamber 12.

With the depression of push button 66, a solvent reclaiming cycle is initiated and the normally closed contacts 66-1 are opened and the normally opened contacts 66-2 and 66-3 are closed. With the closing of the con tacts 66-2 a circuit is completed from line terminal 62 through timer contact 68-1 and contacts 66-2 to energize control relay coils and 82. With this energization of coil 80, holding contacts 80-1 connected in series with the door interlock 16-1 and the timer interlock contacts 68-1 are closed so that coils 80 and 82 remain energized independently of push button 66. (It will be noted that this holding circuit cannot be established if the door 16 is open and the circuit will be broken whenever that door is subsequently opened.)

The closing of contacts 80-2 completes a circuit from line 62 through the fan motor 30 to terminal 64, and the closing of contacts 80-3 completes a circuit from terminal 62 through the basket motor 14 to energize these motors. The water solenoid 70 is also energized. Through normally closed contacts 84-3 the optional steam control solenoid 76 and the indicator relay solenoid 88 are energized, and through normally closed contacts 86-4 indicator solenoid is energized. The energization of indicator solenoid 88 opens contacts 88-1 and closes contacts 88-2 to energize the reclaim cycle indicator lamp 96.

With respect to the contacts operated by control relay 82, when that relay coil is energized preparatory circuits are completed through contacts 82-1 and 82-2, and normally closed contacts 82-3 are opened, de-energizing the end of cycle indicator lamp 102.

The closed contacts 66-3 of the push button complete a circuit to the air intake and exhaust damper control solenoid 74 which operates the valves 50 and 54 to open the tumbler basket chamber air circulation path to the atmosphere as the basket and fan motors 14 and 30 start up and allow dissipation of the pressure buildup in the machine at the beginning of the reclaim cycle, so that violent surging at the water separator is prevented. Upon release of push button 66, valve solenoid 74 is de-energized which allows the exhaust and intake damper valves 50, 54 to close, the intake damper 50 closing immediately and the exhaust damper 54 closing gradually as controlled by the setting of delay element 58. The latter delay provides compensation for the initial expansion of solvent laden air as it is heated and prevents excessive pressure buildup within the air circulation path.

With the release of the push button 66 contacts 66-1 are reclosed completing a circuit through contacts 82-1 to the temperature sensor 24 and also to the normally open contacts 84-1.

The machine is now in its reclaim cycle with air flow through a closed path including the basket 12, the condenser chamber 34 and the heater chamber 42. During this cycle the air is heated to evaporate the solvent from the fabrics for reclaiming by means of the condenser. The duration of this cycle is controlled as a function of temperature rather than an arbitrary time period by sensor 24. The exhaust air temperature sensing in this solvent reclaimer enables more accurate control of the solvent reclaiming process as a function of actual solvent reclaiming operation rather than arbitrary fixed timing interval employed in prior art machines.

When temperature sensor 24 detects a temperature rise in the exhaust air from the tumbler chamber 12 sufficient to cause its contacts to close, a circuit is completed to control solenoid 84 and the normally open contacts 86-1. With energization of coil 84, holding contacts 84-1 are closed which in series with control contacts 82-1 establish; a holding circuit for control solenoid 84 across sensor 24.

The closing of contacts 84-2 energizes solenoid 72 to operate the heater bypass valve 46 and shorten the closed circulation path, and initiates the cooling cycle. (The heater itself may also be de-energized, if desired.) Contacts 84-3 are opened and de-energize solenoid 76 and also indicator solenoid 88 which opens contacts 88-2 and closes contacts 88-1. An indicator circuit, completed through contacts 88-1 and contacts 9Q1,, energizes the cool-down cycle indicator lamp 98..

The machine is now in its cool-down cycle with air being pumped by the blower fan in a closed path through the basket chamber and the condenser but bypassing the heater chamber 42. When temperature rise sensor contacts 24 are closed, the cool-down sensor contacts 26 are connected in electrical circuit. The circuit closed by contacts 24 remains closed once those contacts have detected a maximum temperature and the air pumped through the closed system gradually cools down until contacts 26 close. Again, the cooling cycle is controlled as a function of actual temperature rather than an arbitrary time period that bears no necessary relation to the actual cooling conditions to which the fabrics in the basket are subjected and hence provides greater efiiciency and safety in the fabric treating operation.

When contacts 26 close control relay 86 is energized and contacts 86-1 are closed completing a holding circuit across the temperature sensor contacts 26. The closing of contacts 86-2 energizes the air intake and exhaust solenoid 74 to operate the damper valves 48 and 56 to open the circulation path to the atmosphere. In this path the condenser chamber 34 is bypassed and the circulation path is from the atmosphere through the processing and lint chambers for return to the atmosphere. Also contacts 86-3 close and complete a circuit through contacts 82-2 to energize the timer 68 and also to energize the indicator relay 92 to close contacts 92-1 and energize the deodorize cycle indicator 100. Finally, the normally closed contacts 86-4 are opened, tie-energizing solenoid 90 and opening contacts 90-1 to extinguish the cooldown cycle indicator 98.

As indicated above the duration of the reclaim and cool-down cycles are functions of air temperature in a closed system rather than of arbitrarily timed duration. The duration of the deodorizing cycle, however, is controlled by timer 68 with the circulated air being received from and exhausted to the atmosphere in a circulation path that bypasses both the heater and the condenser.

When timer 68 is started the Warning buzzer 104 is also energized. The machine is now in the deodorize cycle and continues until the end of the timed period when contacts 68-1 open, de-energizing the entire control circuit by dropping out relays 80 and 82. The opening of contacts 80-2 turns oif the fan mot-or 30 and the opening of contacts 89-3 turns off the basket motor 14 and tie-energizes the water solenoid 70. The opening of contacts 82-1 breaks the holding circuits for control relays 84 and 86. The opening of contacts 82-2 de-energizes the timer 68 and the warning buzzer 104 and, through deenergization of indicator relay 92, the deodor-ize indicator 100. Contacts 82-3 close and energize the end of cycle indicator 102.

The heater bypass solenoid '72 is de-energized when contacts 84-2 open and the air circulation path is closed when contacts 86-2 open to de-energize solenoid 74. Thus the system is closed to the atmosphere automatically at the termination of the deodorize cycle and audible and visual indications of the completion of the entire cleaning cycle are provided.

As indicated above, whenever the door 16 is opened, the contacts 16-1 are opened and the contacts 16-2 are closed, providing a circuit to energize control relays 84 and 86, thus automatically opening the dampers and allowing atmospheric air to circulate through the tumbler basket. Should the door 16 be opened during any part of the solvent reclaiming cycle, the opening of contacts 16-1 will de-energize control relays 80 and 82. To reestablish operation the cycle must be reinitiated, after the door 16 is reclosed, by operating push button 66.

The optional door switch contact 16-3 causes the fan 28 to operate Whenever the door is opened, bypassing even the master control switch 60 so that the door 16 operates the fan motor 30 directly. Thus whenever the door 16 is opened, the dampers are operated, permitting atmospheric air to circulate through the processing chamher, and optionally the fan motor is running. When the machine is filled with a load of solvent-laden garments, the closing of the loading door causes the dampers to reclose in an automatic manner, closing the processing chamber circulation system, and the machine is ready to start the next cycle merely in response to depression of the start button. When that button 66 is depressed, the dampers 50, 54 are again opened to permit free circulation as the tumbler and fan start, and then with the release of the button the intake damper closes quickly and the exhaust damper 54 closes more slowly, thus providing a smooth and rapid transition from standby to solvent reclaiming without adverse effect on the solvent separation operation.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides a novel and improved solvent reclaimer and control mechanism for such :reclaimer. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various moditfications thereof will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment or to details thereof, and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Solvent reclaiming apparatus comprising a processing chamber having an inlet and an outlet,

a condenser,

a heater,

a duct system,

circulation means for directing an air stream in a closed circuit through said duct system generally downwardly through said processing chamber and generally upwardly through said condenser,

said duct system connecting said condenser, said circulation means, said heater, said chamber inlet, and said chamber outlet,

an auxiliary duct for bypassing said heater,

valve means for opening said duct system to permit intake of air from and exhaust of air to the atmosphere, thermally responsive means disposed in said duct sys tem adjacent said chamber outlet,

a timer element,

and control means including means to initiate a solvent reclaiming cycle with said heater connected in said ductsystem,

first means responsive to said thermally responsive means to connect said auxiliary duct in said duct system to bypass said heater and initiate a cooling cycle,

second means responsive to said thermally responsive means to operate said valve means to open said duct system to the atmosphere and initiate a deodorizing cycle, and to actuate said timer element,

and means responsive to said timer element to operate said valve means to close said duct system to the atmosphere and terminate said deodorizing cycle.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermally responsive means includes first and second control elements,

said first control element actuating said first means when the temperature of air exiting from said processing chamber exceeds a first temperature and said second control element actuating said second means when the temperature of air exiting from said processing chamber falls to a second temperature less than said first temperature after said first means has been actuated.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including control means responsive to the initiation of a solvent reclaiming cycle to operate said valve means to open said duct system to the atmosphere at the beginning of said solvent reclaiming cycle and then to automatically close said intake port control element before said exhaust port control element.

4. Solvent reclaiming apparatus comprising a processing chamber having an inlet and an outlet,

a condenser,

a heater,

a duct system connecting in closed circuit said condenser, said heater, said chamber inlet, and said chamber outlet,

circulating mean-s in said duct system for directing an air stream through said closed circuit,

an auxiliary duct for bypassing said heater,

an exhaust port disposed in said duct system between said chamber outlet and said condenser,

an inlet port disposed in said duct system between said condenser and said chamber inlet,

valve means for opening said inlet and exhaust ports to permit intake of air from and exhaust of air to the atmosphere,

first and second thermally responsive control elements in said duct system adjacent said chamber outlet,

and control means including first means to initiate a; solvent reclaiming cycle with said heater connected in circuit in said duct system,

second means responsive to said first control element to connect said bypass duct in said duct system to terminate said solvent reclaiming cycle and initiate a cooling cycle,

third means responsive to said second control elements to operate said valve means to open said duct system to the atmosphere and initiate a deodorizing cycle,

and fourth means to operate said valve means to close said duct system to the atmosphere and terminate said deodorizing cycle.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and further including control means responsive to the initiation of a solvent reclaiming cycle to operate said valve means to open said duct system to the atmosphere at the beginning of said solvent reclaiming cycle and then to automatical- -ly close said intake port before said exhaust port.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and further including an access door to said processing chamber,

said access door having an open position and a latched position,

and control means responsive to the position of said door to operate said valve means.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first means also operates said valve means to open said duct system to the atmosphere at the beginning of said solvent reclaiming cycle and then to automatically close said intake port before said exhaust port.

8. Solvent reclaiming apparatus comprising a tumbler for receiving solvent laden articles,

means for rotating said tumbler,

a condenser,

a heater,

a duct system,

a fan for forcing an air stream through said duct system and said tumbler chamber,

said duct system connecting in series said condenser,

said fan, said heater, and said tumbler,

an auxiliary duct for bypassing said heater,

valve means for opening said duct system to permit intake of air from and exhaust of air to the atmosphere,

first and second thermally responsive control elements disposed in. said duct system adjacent the outlet of said tumble-r,

a timer element,

and control means including first means to initiate a solvent reclaiming cycle with said heater connected in said duct system,

second means responsive to said first. control elements to connect said auxiliary duct in said duct system to bypass said heater and initiate a cooling cycle,

third means responsive to said second control element to operate said valve means to open said duct sys- '8 tem to the atmosphere and initiate a deodorizing cycle and to actuate said timer element,

and fourth means responsive to said timer element to operate said valve means to close said duct system to the atmosphere and to stop the rotation of said tumbler and said fan, thus terminating said deodorizing cycle.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said duct system includes an intake port and an exhaust port and further including control means responsive to the initiation of a solvent reclaiming cycle to operate said valve means to open said duct system to the atmosphere at the beginning of said solvent reclaiming cycle and then to automatically close said intake port before said exhaust port.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and further including an access door to said tumbler, said access door having an open position and a latched position, and control means responsive to the position of said door to operate said valve means.

11. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a tumbler chamber,

a foraminous tumbler cylinder for receiving a load of fabric articles laden with a liquid fabric treating agent, said cylinder being rotatably mounted in said chamber,

means for rotating said tumbler cylinder,

a heater,

a duct system for connecting said heater and said tumbler chamber in series,

a fan for forcing an air stream heated by said heater through said duct system for passage through said tumbler cylinder to evaporate said liquid agent for removal from fabric articles in said cylinder,

and control means including liquid agent removing cycle initiating means to energize said heater and said fan to force heated air through said tumbler chamber while said tumbler cylinder is being rotated to evaporate and remove said liquid agent from the fabric articles, Y

first thermally responsive means disposed in said duct system immediately adjacent the outlet of said tumbler chamber for initiating, in response to the sensing of a first predetermined air temperature, a cooling cycle to reduce the temperature of the air stream flowing through said tumbler chamber, and

second thermally responsive means disposed in said duct system immediately adjacent the outlet of said tumbler chamber for initiating, in response to the sensing of a second predetermined air temperature lower than said first predetermined air temperature subsequent to the sensing of said first predetermined air temperature, a moderating cycle to moderate the air flow through said duct system.

12. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a tumbler chamber,

a foraminous tumbler cylinder for receiving a load of fabric articles laden with a liquid fabric treating agent, said cylinder being rotatably mounted in said chamber,

an aperture in said chamber enabling introduction of fabric articles into said tumbler cylinder for treatment,

an access door disposed over said aperture for closing said aperture and preventing escape of said fabric treating agent through said aperture,

means for rotating said tumbler cylinder,

a heater,

a duct system for connecting said heater and said tumbler chamber in series,

a fan for forcing an air stream heated by said heater through said duct system for passage through said tumbler cylinder to evaporate said liquid agent for removal from fabric articles in said cylinder,

said duct system including an intake port and an exhaust port,

valve means coupled to said intake and exhaust ports for opening said duct system to permit intake of air from the atmosphere for flow through said tumbler chamber and subsequent exhaust of the air to the atmosphere,

control means for initiating a liquid agent removal cycle with said heater connected in said duct system,

and means responsive to said control means for operating said valve means to open said intake and exhaust ports to the atmosphere at the beginning of said liquid agent removal cycle and then to automatically close said intake port before said exhaust port to provide controlled venting of said duct system and controlled air flow pressure build-up at the start of said liquid agent removal cycle.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and further including means responsive to the opening of said access door to said tumbler chamber to operate said valve means to open said duct system to the atmposhere.

14. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a tumbler chamber,

a foraminous tumbler cylinder for receiving a load of fabric articles laden With a liquid fabric treating agent, said cylinder being rotatably mounted in said chamber,

an aperture in said chamber enabling introduction of fabric articles into said tumbler cylinder for treatment,

an access door disposed over said aperture for closing said aperture and preventing escape of said fabric treating agent through said aperture,

means for rotating said tumbler cylinder,

a heater,

a condenser,

a Water conduit for supplying Water to said conduit,

means responsive to the opening of said access door to terminate the flow of Water through said Water conduit to said condenser,

a duct system for connecting said heater, said condenser, and said tumbler chamber in series,

a fan for forcing an air stream heated by said heater through said duct system for passage through said tumbler cylinder to evaporate said liquid agent for removal from fabric articles in said cylinder,

said duct system including an intake port and an exhaust port,

valve means coupled to said intake and exhaust ports for opening said duct system to permit intake of air 10 from the atmosphere for How through said tumbler chamber and subsequent exhaust of the air to the atmosphere,

control means including means for initiating a liquid agent removal cycle with said heater connected in said duct system,

first thermally responsive means disposed in said duct system immediately adjacent the outlet of said tumbler chamber for initiating, in response to the sensing of a first predetermined air temperature, a cooling cycle to reduce the temperature of the air stream flowing through said tumbler chamber, and

second thermally responsive means disposed in said duct system immediately adjacent the outlet of said tumbler chamber for initiating, in response to the sensing of a second predetermined air temperature lower than said first predetermined air temperature subsequent to the sensing of said first predetermined air temperature, a moderating cycle to moderate the air flow through said duct system,

and means responsive to said control means for operating said valve means to open said intake and exhaust ports to the atmosphere at the beginning of said liquid agent removal cycle and then to automatically close said intake port before said exhaust port to provide controlled venting of said duct system and controlled air flow pressure build-up at the start of said liquid agent removal cycle.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 and further including means responsive to the completion of said moderating cycle to initiate a deodorizing cycle by opening said duct system to the atmosphere and means responsive to the completion of said deodorizing cycle to close said duct system to the atmosphere to conserve said liquid agent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,084 12/36 Sande 34-77 2,166,294 7/39 Hetzer 34-77 2,360,915 10/44 Vermilya 34-87 2,397,091 3/46 Davis 34-87 2,470,843 5/49 Monsarrat 34-87 3,002,287 10/61 Smith 34---77 WILLIAM F. ODEA, Acting Primary Examiner.

NORMAN YUDKOFF, Examiner. 

11. FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A TUMBLER CHAMBER, A FORAMINOUS TUMBLER CYLINDER FOR RECEIVING A LOAD OF FABRIC ARTICLES LADEN WITH A LIQUID FABRIC TREATING AGENT, SAID CYLINDER BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CHAMBER, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID TUMBLER CYLINDER A HEATER ADUCT SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING SAID HEATER AND SAID TUMBLER CHAMBER IN SERIES, A FAN FOR FORCING AND AIR STREAM HEATED BY SAID HEATER THROUGH SAID DUCT SYSTEM FOR PASSAGE THROUGH SAID TUMBLER CYLINDER TO EVAPORATE SAID LIQUID AGENT FOR REMOVAL FROM FABRIC ARTICLES IN SAID CYLINDER AND CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING LIQUID AGENT REMOVING CYCLE INITIATING MEANS TO ENERGIZE SAID HEATER AND SAID FAN TO FORCE HEATED AIR THROUGH SAID TUMBLER CHAMBER WHILE SAID TUMBLER CYLINDER IS BEING ROTATED TO EVAPORATE AND REMOVE SAID LIQUID AGENT FROM THE FABRIC ARTICLES, FIRST THEREMALLY RESPONSIVE MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID DUCT SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE OUTLET OF SAID TUMBLER CHAMBER FOR INITIATING, IN RESPONSE TO THE SENSING OF A FIRST PREDETERMINED AIR TEMPERATURE, A COOLING CYCLE TO REDUCE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR STREAM FLOWING THROUGH SAID TUMBLER CHAMBER, AND SECOND THERMALLY RESPONSIVE MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID DUCT SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE OUTLET OF SAID TUMBLER CHAMBER FOR INITIATING, IN RESPONSE TO THE SENSING OF A SECOND PREDETERMINED AIR TEMPERATURE LOWER THAN SAID FIRST PREDETERMINED AIR TEMPERATURE SUBSEQUENT TO THE SENSING OF SAID FIRST PREDETERMINED AIR TEMPERATURE, A MODERATING CYCLE TO MODERATE THE AIR FLOW THROUGH SAID DUCT SYSTEM. 